View source for Lake Champlain

{{Infobox lake
 |lake_name = Lake Champlain<br>Lac Champlain
 |image_lake = Lake Champlain.jpg
 |caption_lake = Lake Champlain near Burlington during sunset
 |image_bathymetry =
 |caption_bathymetry =
 |location = [[New York (state)|New York]] / [[Vermont]] in [[USA]]; and [[Quebec]] in [[Canada]]
 |coords = {{Coord|44|32|N|73|20|W|type:waterbody_scale:1000000|display=inline,title}}
 |type =
 |inflow = [[Otter Creek (Vermont)|Otter Creek]], [[Winooski River]], [[Missisquoi River]], [[Poultney River]], [[Lamoille River]], [[Ausable River (New York)|Ausable River]], [[Chazy River]], [[Boquet River]], [[Saranac River]], [[La Chute River]]
 |outflow = [[Richelieu River]]
 |catchment = {{convert|21326|km2|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
 |basin_countries = Canada, United States
 |length = {{convert|201|km|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
 |width = {{convert|23|km|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
 |area = {{convert|1269|km2|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
 |depth = {{convert|19.5|m|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
 |max-depth = {{convert|122|m|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
 |volume = {{convert|25.8|km3|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
 |residence_time = 3.3 years
 |shore = {{convert|945|km|disp=flip|abbr=on}}
 |elevation = {{convert|95|to|100|ft|abbr=on}}
 |islands = 80 ([[Grand Isle, Vermont|Grand Isle]], [[North Hero, Vermont|North Hero]], [[Isle La Motte, Vermont|Isle La Motte]], ''[[#Islands|see list]]'')
 |cities = [[Burlington, Vermont]]; [[Plattsburgh, New York]]
}}
'''Lake Champlain''' is a natural [[freshwater]] [[lake]] in [[North America]] along the borders of [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Vermont]] and partially across the [[United States]]-[[Canada]] border in the [[province]] of [[Quebec]]. The lake was named for the [[France|French]] [[explorer]] [[Samuel de Champlain]], who came there in [[1609]].
== A region of large freshwater lakes ==
Lake Champlain is one of a large number of large lakes spread in an [[arc]] from [[Labrador, Canada|Labrador]] through the [[north]]ern [[United States]] and into the [[Northwest Territories]] of Canada.  Although it is much smaller than the [[Great Lakes]] of [[Lake Ontario|Ontario]], [[Lake Erie|Erie]], [[Lake Huron|Huron]], [[Lake Superior|Superior]], or [[Lake Michigan|Michigan]], Lake Champlain is a large body of fresh water. The lake is about {{convert|1269|km2|disp=flip}} in [[area]]. It is about {{convert|201|km|disp=flip}} long. At its widest point, it is about {{convert|23|km|disp=flip}} wide. The maximum depth is about {{convert|400|ft}}. It contains about 80 islands, including the entirety of Vermont's Grand Isle County.
== Colonial America and the Revolutionary War ==
In the [[Thirteen Colonies|colonial]] times, Lake Champlain gave an easily blocked water (or, in winter, ice) passage between the [[Saint Lawrence River|Saint Lawrence]] and the [[Hudson River|Hudson]] Valleys.  [[Boat]]s and sledges were usually preferable to the unpaved and frequently mud-bound roads of the time.  The northern tip of the lake at [[Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec|Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu]], [[Quebec]] (St. John in colonial times) is a short distance from [[Montreal]].  The southern tip at [[Whitehall (town), New York|Whitehall]] (Skenesborough in colonial times) is a short distance from [[Saratoga, New York|Saratoga]], [[Glens Falls, New York|Glens Falls]], and [[Albany, New York|Albany]], [[New York (state)|New York]].

[[Fort]]s at [[Fort Ticonderoga|Ticonderoga]] and [[Crown Point, New York|Crown Point]] ([[Fort St. Frederic]]) controlled passage of the lake in colonial times.  Important [[battle]]s were fought at Ticonderoga in [[1758]] and [[1777]].  A important naval battle was fought in [[1776]] at [[Valcour Island]]: in the [[Battle of Valcour Island]], [[Benedict Arnold]] delayed British ships enough to prevent the fall of these forts until the following year, allowing the [[Continental Army]] to grow stronger and allowing the later [[victory]] at [[Saratoga campaign|Saratoga]].

== Lake Champlain Media ==
<gallery widths='160px' heights='100%' mode='traditional' caption=''>
File:Lake Champlain by Sentinel-2.jpg|Sentinel-2 satellite photo

File:Brooklyn Museum - Green Mountains, Lake Champlain - Winckworth Allan Gay - overall.jpg|Brooklyn Museum – Green Mountains, Lake Champlain – Winckworth Allan Gay – overall

File:Lac Champlain (Nouvelle-France) 1739.JPG|Map of ''Lac Champlain'', from Fort de Chambly up to Fort St-Fréderic in ''Nouvelle France''. [[Cadastre|Cadastral]] map showing concessions and ''seigneuries'' on the coasts of the lake according to 1739 surveying.

File:Lake Champlain Ferry.jpg|[[Lake Champlain Ferries|Charlotte Ferry]], Lake Champlain

File:Champlain Valley.jpg|The Champlain Valley as seen from [[Camel's Hump]]

File:Lake Champlain, Vermont.jpg|Lake Champlain, [[Charlotte, Vermont]]

File:Dutton House Shelburne Museum.jpg|[[Dutton House (Shelburne, Vermont)|Dutton House]], Shelburne Museum

File:Stagecoach Inn Shelburne Museum.jpg|[[Stagecoach Inn (Shelburne, Vermont)|Stagecoach Inn]], Shelburne Museum

File:Sawmill Shelburne Museum.jpg|Sawmill, [[Shelburne Museum]]
</gallery>
== Other websites ==
{{commons cat-inline}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Champlain, Lake}}
[[Category:Lakes of the United States]]
[[Category:Lakes of Canada]]
[[Category:Geography of Vermont]]
[[Category:Geography of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Geography of Quebec]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves]]